- Jun 12, 2014
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We have only one of our original flock of 6 hens left. We had 2 in late July, but we lost one of those to Fly Strike. This left Shirley all alone now, but we had 4 pullets that we raised from chicks still in our garage and decided to start integrating them with Shirley. They all now live in the pen/coop together and seem to get along well even though the young ones are still a bit skittish. In the past few weeks since the integration of the group, Shirley the 4 year old that no longer is laying eggs (last ones were basically shell less eggs with the last egg she laid being in mid July before the other 4 year olds death) is now crowing in the mornings! What is up with this? Is she producing more testosterone than hormones? Is she exhibiting her dominance since there is no Rooster?
. There are also some hens that just crow. Given her age it is likely that she has developed a hormonal imbalance. There are instances (frequently associated with ovarian cancer/abnormalities) where a hen will take on the physical characteristics of a rooster - including crowing, 'mating', and the development of male specific feathering. I have been around fowl a long time and have only seen one instance where this occurred.
